Machine for turning and binding the edges of leather



pril ll, 1950 L. J. NO ECKER 2,503,589

' MACHINE FOR TURNING AND BINDING'THE EDGES oF LEATHER Filed July 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 We 2/6 /06V 64 I I /Z .z @C 86 20a l: /fa 204 l f4 60 03 G ,o/ 0E I 94 4a 4e 200 70 Le @a 20,2 54l April 11, 195o 1 ,.1. NQECKER 2,503,589

MACHINE FOR TURNING AND BINDING THE EDGES 0F LEATHER Filed July 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 142 :f6/gi /2 g4 I A ez 206 ./44 56 L M6 /72 vll/3.

)"/66 5,6 724/25 uffi? waz J//s Ary-@Ewen Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR TURNINGAND BINDING THE EDGES 0F LEATHER 14 Claims.

Generally, the invention herein disclosed concerns a novel Amachine adapted for use in the manufacture of leather goods, for example, in the shoe and hand bag industries.

In the manufacture of items of this nature, it is desirable to have any raw or unfinished edges of pieces of leather turned or folded inwardly against the main body portion of each piece and permanently secured thereto, so that the unnished edge portions are transformed into smooth, nished edge portions.

Granted to me on April 20, '1948 were Letters Patent No. 2,440,113. Said patent discloses a power-driven machine, operable in cycles at the will of the operator, and adapted to achieve the results above set forth.

In said patent, all of the moving parts of the machine are so coordinated as to operate in a cycle, clutch mechanism being provided whereby an attendant may, at will, cause the moving parts to `function in proper sequence, and then be automatically arrested in movement at the end of each cycle.

Broadly, are analogous to those expounded in said patent. The novel mechanism for attaining these objects however, is operable Yat the will of the operator by the manipulation of a pair of treadles. In other words, the present machine is not power driven, its action being responsive to foot power 'supplied by the operator.

Itis obviously to be understood, that the instant vinvention in no way disparages the machine of the patent. That machine has been found to lachieve 'its objects in a vniost ecient manner.

However,`v it has also been found, that from a safety standpoint, its operation requires skilled attendants, since o'nce a cycle has been inaugurated, the moving parts cannot be arrested until said cycle has been completed'l It'hasfurther been found, that in some cases,

the objects of the present invention Iskilled operators are not available. Under such i -circum'stances, lit is considered folly to risk injury to the hands of an unskilled operator.

By means of the present invention, an operator may be trained in the various 'manipulations rey quired, so that within a short period of time, he may operate the 'automatic machine without fT'l'i'is is not to say however, that the present l'invention is designed for training purposes only,

@found to be slightly more eflicacious when deal- I '2 ing with pieces of leather-.the thickness of which is somewhat above normal.

In other words, means are provided whereby the edges of a piece of leather may be subjected to an additional final pressure-applying action which more positively binds them, after being turned, to the body portion of the leather.

In carrying out vthe invention, 'a quick-drying cement or other adhesive is applied to a narrow marginal portion of the leather along the raw or unfinished edge prior to subjecting the piece to the action of the machine. In the machine, the marginal edge is turned or folded under, and by applied pressure, bound against the main body portion of the leather. As a result, vwhen a piece of leather is removed from the machine, the former raw edge has been transformed into a smooth, finished edge which is permanent and does not require stitching, except for ornamentation, if desirable.

As in the machine of my said patent, pieces of leather of various contours and sizes may be submitted to the action of the machine, it being necessary only to mount the proper combination of blade, forming block, and anvil elements, on the vertically reciprocable parts thereof.

Advantages and features not hereinbefore jreferred to, will be apparent or specifically pointed out in the description to follow, reference being had also to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machinev attached to a supporting table or stand;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine.;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar view on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view similar t0 Fig. 2, with 'certain removable parts omitted, another part in horizontal section, and a Amovable part in different position;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a combined vanvil and pressure plate; l

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a forming block;

Fig. 1U is a top plan view of a creasing blade supporting member.;

Fig.' 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of portions of Fig. 5, with a piece of leather being shown in position for the initial step in a turning and binding operation;

Figs. 12, 13, I'121, and, 15 are similar views "illustrating respectively some of the successive steps in said turning and binding operation;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of a piece of leather to one marginal edge of which a quickdrying cement has been applied, as indicated by stippling;

Fig. 1'7 is a top plan view of modified combined anvil and pressure plate;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a modified forming block associated therewith;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of a creasing blade supporting member which may be employed in combination with the elements of Figs. 1'? and 18.

With particular reference now to Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, the machine comprising the present invention is designated as a whole, by the reference numeral 30. It includes a substantially rectangular base portiongenerally designated 32, and Ya substantially U-shaped frame member mounted thereon, and generally designated 34.

The machine is mounted on an elevated platform such as a table 36 or the like, the latter supported by legs or standards 38. 'I'he table 36 occupies a horizontal plane above the floor level a distance to accommodate the legs of the operator. as is understood.

A vertically reciprocable creasing assembly, supported by the frame 34, is generally designated 40; a vertically reciprocable pressure applying assembly. supported by the base 32 is generally designated 42; and a, stationary forming block assembly, als() supported by said base, is generally designated 44.

As will appear, reciprocal movements of the creasing assembly are effected by the manipulation of a treadle 46, and similar movements of the pressure assembly by the manipulation of a treadle 48.

These two treadles are illustrated only in Fig. 1, and there, more or less diagrammatically, since obviously, they may be of any suitable construction adapted to effect the required action.

With reference now to the base 32, it is seen to include side walls 50, a front wall 52, a rear wall 54, a top wall 56, and a shallow transverse wall 58 depending from said top wall. Preferably, but not necessarily, the base 32 is integrally formed, and the side walls are provided with outstanding lugs 60 apertured to receive bolts 62. whereby the entire machine 30 is securely attached to said table, as shown.

With reference now to the frame 34, it is seen to include side walls 64, and an integral bottom or connecting wall 66 which rests upon the top wall 56, and is rigidly secured thereto by means of bolts 68, as shown.

Each side wal] 64 is provided approximately centrally of its forward and rear edges with an inwardly extending bearing portion 10, and adjacent its forward edge with a vertical slideway 12.

Adjacent the rear edges thereof, the walls 64 are connected by a cross bar T4, the latter having a threaded central aperture to receive anv abutment screw I6 which may be locked in desired position of adjustment by a nut 18.

The creasing assembly includes a crosshead 80 vertically slideable in the slideways 12, a horizontally disposed plate 82, a creasing'blade 84, a channel shaped block 86 rigid with said crosshead, and a lever 88 the rear end 90 of which Vhas a pivotal connection with the upper end of a. vertical rod 92. This connection includes a pivot pin rigid with the end of said lever, as shown. The lower end of the rod '92 has a. pivotal connection as at 93 with the rearward portion of the treadle 46.

As shown particularly in Figs. l and 5, the crosshead terminates at its lower end in an extended portion 94, in the bottom face of which is formed a transverse dove-tail groove 96, adapted to slidably receive a similar upwardly projecting crossbar 98 provided on the blade supporting plate 82.

The creasing blade 84 may be secured to the member 82 by screws or the like |00, as shown particularly in Fig. 10, or it may be formed as an integral depending extension of said member if desired. As also seen to best advantage in this view, the member 82 is provided with an elongated transverse slot |02, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

As shown especially in Figs. 5 and 7, the forward end of the lever 88 terminates in a rounded portion |04 in constant engagement with the recess |05 of the block 86. Said lever is pivotally supported approximately centrally thereof on a crossshaft |06 passing through a hub portion |08 thereon, through the bearings 10, and projecting laterally Ibeyond the walls 64. Collars |l0, or other means, maintain the shaft |06 in position.

In order to normally maintain the crosshead 80 in its elevated position, a tension spring ||2 is provided. As shown in the drawings, the upf per end of this spring is secured to a lug ||4 depending from the lever 88, and the lower end to a lug I6 projecting upwardly from the bottom wall 66 of the frame 34.

The vertically reciprocable pressure applying assembly 42 includes a horizontally disposed plate ||8, and a similarly disposed lever |20 pivotally mounted on a cross shaft |22. Rigidly secured to the underside of the plate 8 as by screws |24 is a depending bracket |26, the depending legs |28 of which are apertured to receive the ends of a pivot pin |30 which passes therethrough and through the forward end |32 of said lever 20.

The cross shaft |22 is supported in a pair of angle brackets |34 secured to the underside of the wall 56 by screws |36, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The plate ||8 is normally maintained in its elevated position by means of a coil spring |38 interposed between the lever |20 and the Wall 56, as shown in Fig. 5.

A suitable device to limit the upward movement of said plate under the pressure exerted by the spring |38 upon the rearportion of lever |20 is provided. It may comprise a vertically disposed strap member |40 rigidly attached at its upper end to said plate by a screw |42, and at its lower end to the wall 52 by a screw |44. The latter screw passes through an elongated slot |46 in said strap.

Therefore, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 6, whereas the plate l I8 may be depressed, it cannot rise above the plane of fthe uppersurface of the wall 56. In other words, the arrangement is such that normally the top surfaces o f the plate ||8 and the Wall 56-are flush.

In order to insure smooth reciprocation of the plate I8, between its said upper limit and its lower limit of movement as will appear, said plate is provided on opposite sides with vertical slide members |48 which operate in similar slideways |50 formed in the forward portions of the side walls 50. y

As shown especially in Fig. 5, there is a exible connection or chain attached to either end of the lever |20. The forward chain |52 passes downwardly through an openingA |54 provided in table 36, and has its lower end attached to the front endet treadle 48,; as. at: |58'. The rearward' cha-in.-

ll, passes: downwardly through an openings` |88` v providedv insaid'. table, andl has. its. lower end; at

tachedto the.- rear` end of said. treadle,` as at |821 As shown particularly in Figs. 5 and formed inthe upper face-of.' theplate ||8 is a transverse. dovestail groove. |84, and a longitudinal dovatail groove |66. AdjacentI one: end of each said grooves, there is. provided a4 shallow threaded' hole |88..

These dove-tail grooves'` serve to removably' mount an anvil and. pressure. platey off selected contour on the member H8. Obviously, the contour selected matches thatr of the-...selected creasing blade 84.

' The. particularl anvil. member |10, associated. with. the'. machine in the drawings; isf illustratedsein Fig.. 8. It.- is of identical constructionwith theanvil member of' said patent, and? will be but briefly described. It-includes a. solid plate portion. |12. and' a resilient arcuately-edged por-V tion. |14; imbedded in a` recess |18.. Iii-should' be. noted' however, that' in some; operations, the portion |14 need. not be ofr a. resilient` composition.

For use; in. the presenti machine-,f each anvil and pressure member is. provided with. a. de.- pending dove-tail cross bar. |18- ad'apted to be slidably received by either the grooves |84, or the groove' |68, depending on whether saidA bar extends transversely or longitudinally.- It, may. be. said that', except. in rare.- instances, all anvil. members will be provided with a transverse bar, and therefore. the: description, will be limited. thereto. Adjacent one end,. each bar |18 is pro-4 vided. with an apex-turev |80. This aperture is formeda predetermined distance from the longitudinal centerline of the. anvil, saidv distance, being identical with. that: obtaining between. the. threaded hole |68 and the longitudinal centerlinev of the machine. f Thus, anyselected. anvil member may be cen-- trally mounted by aligning the holes |80- and |68, whereupon a set` screw |82. may be employed to prevent fortuitous displacement,- during.v con--y tinued operations.

. They forming4 block assembly 44, as has been stated.. is stationary, and, as seen especially in Fig. 9, of a conguration corresponding to that' of its associated an-vil memberv and creasing blade.`

As. in said patent, each forming block; assembly includes a horizontally disposed plate |84, a raised guage portion- |86,V and a. protruding lip portion |88.. l

'liorrnountA a selected forming' bl'ooliv assembly in; proper position, the upper face of the wall 5.6 is. providedv with a transverse dove-t'ail groove I 90. adapted to. slidably'receive ra downwardly project--V ing dove-tail cross bar |92 with which each plate. |84 is equipped. A shallow threaded. hole |94,yan aperture |98, and a. set screw |98, provide an arrangement. for properly locating the. forming'. block, similar to that described in connection with the. anvil member..

It is noted that one of the functions of the treadleV 48 is` to facilitate the positioning of the assembly |10-, when: it is: not of a type similar to that illustrated in. Fig. 17. Thus exam-ple in order to mount the assembly of Fig. 8,-4 w-ith the4 assembly of Fig. 9 al1-'earlyy in. place, the; forward,` end' of the treadle 48 is depressed to bringtk the upper facev of. the: plate H8 slightly below the lower face of the stationary plate |84..

- It is also noted that after the anvilassembly |10.. and the forming block assembly' 44, have been. mounted in position on the. machine., the

creasing; assembly'isslidfintoproper position. and; so.` maintained.. The means. provided for this, latterpurpose comprise a laterally projecting.' lug, 200 having a threaded aperture'. to engage the .shank portion of a. set screw 202. the: lower err.-`

tremity of' which may bebrought tobear against the. upper face` of' the dove-tail bar 98.v

Referring now. briey to Figs. 17, y 18 and I9.; a.y complementary set, or combination, of modiedv anvil, forming. block, and creasing blade elements is portrayed..

Thisl combinationv will-obviously produce a. straight. nished edge. ToA obviate prolix de4 scription, reference characters, whosel meaning.N has4 already appeared, are-.applied to the parts.

Itis noted that, when thisy modied, set' or: oneanalogous; thereto isz employed.. the; machine thus.: far described will function in a highly eicienti manner.

However to insure similar functioning; when; the set portrayed. in; Figs. 8, 9. and' 1.0, or. one. analogous. thereto,. is employed, the' machine is equipped with mechanism. which will nowbe'` described..

Thus as shown in the drawings, av rectangular biockzon.. 0fv metal is welded, ta as at 20s,. and

spans the distance` between, the..front vertical edges of' the vertical walls 64. Formed in the blockk 204, is a plurality ofv elongated vertical openings 208, each of which extends: from topy to bottom. of said block, as specifically shown in, Fig; 6.

Flushy with the upper face of block, 204, and. pivotallyl mounted ontheunthreaded shankv portion of a screwy 2|0, is a horizontally disposed latching arm 2 I2 the freev extremity of which exztends. beyond the adjacent vertical side of, said block;Y

Assuming that; the forming block of' Fig. 9, orv one analogous thereto is being employed, the arm 2|2 is. swung forwardly, asr suggested in Fig. 7,. and one. or more. rods 2M are inserted-into, and passed through selected openings 208 of the blockv 204. These rods are of such length that when their lower extremities are in contactwith the upper surface of plate |84, theirv upper extremities are ush with the upper face 2 I8 of the block. With the rods 2|4 in place, the arm 2|.2 is swungl intol its Fig. 2 position, whereby saidv rods arev reL tained rigidly inposition against the plate |84..

1 As will appearinthedescription of the Opera-- tion to follow, upward pressure is at times exe erted against said bloclgr andv it is important-that it be.- maintained rigid.

Therefore, when av forming block is employed; which projectsforwardly a considerable distance. beyond. the. wall 58, the arrangement described is employed. The slot |02- rpe-rmits passage of the rods throughthecreasing blade supporting platev 82. To remove any undue strain on the pivot screw' 2m, .an abutmentv angle 2| 8V is provided. Its vertical leg portion is rigidly securedto the rear face of the block. 204, and its horizontal ieg portion extends forwardly in. Contact with the free end of said arm.. as shown.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming-that the pieceof. leather L portrayed in Fig., 16 is. tovv have itsedgee turned. and. bound.. it is placed in position with its adhesively treated side up,.and with said edge in contact with guagev adjacent the-adhesively coated margin thereof.

7. At such time, it is noted that the leather is, s to speak, pinched between the blade 84 and the resilient portion |14 of the anvil. the leather is thus obviated. This relation of parts is illustrated in Fig. 12.

Further descent of the creasing blade to its predetermined limit effects the result portrayed in Fig. 13. It is noted that the adjustable abutment screw 16 determines the extent of creasing blade descent. As shown, the resilient member |14 yields somewhat so that the free marginal edge of the leather now springs outwardly into engagement with the underside of the projectingl It is to be noted, that while the blade 84 is descending, it is forcing the anvil supporting plate I|8 downwardly thereby compressing the spring |38.

Assuming that the operator now removes his foot from the treadle 48, the spring I2 will cause the creasing blade 84 to ascend.

Simultaneously, the spring |38 will cause the plate IIB, and the anvil |12 to do likewise. approximate position of the parts shortly after the beginning of these movements is illustrated in Fig. 14, wherein it is seen that the partial adhesion of the marginal portion to the body portion of the leather has now been effected.

Complete adhesion will ordinarily have been effected when the force of pressure exerted by the spring |38 against the lever |20 has been expended. At such time the upper face of the' anvil member 12 will occupy a plane below that of the forming block approximately equal to the thickness of the leather, as is understood without requiring illustration. l

However, since under these conditions, a slight further ascent of the Plate H8 is permitted because the lower end of slot |46 is not in contact with abutment screw |44, the operator by depressing the rear portion of treadle 48 may elevate the anvil-pressure plate |12 to the position shown in Fig. 15.

This additional pressure, though limited, hasy been found to be highly effective, particularly if in binding relatively thick stock.

To remove the leather L with its now iinished edge, the operator depresses the forward end of treadle 48 to lower the plate ||8, as is understood. Upon removal of his foot from said treadle, the machine is ready for the reception of a similar piece of leather.

It is to be understood that the precise mechanism illustrated and described is subject to modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention, which is characterized by suitable means that may be manually operated to first crease a piece of leather adjacent the edge thereof to be finished, and thereafter fold and bind said edge to the body portion of the leather.

, Therefore, the scope of the invention is to bev 2.' In a machine of vthe character described, a

slippage of The' vertically reciprocable creasing. assembly including a bladeand a supporting'block therefor, a vertically reciprocable pressure applying assembly including a solid plate portion and an anvil portion, a stationary forming block assembly including a guage portion and a projecting lip portion, means for thereafter automatically raising the creasing assembly, means for manually lowering the pressure applying assembly, means for thereupon automatically raising same, and auxiliary means for thereupon manually raising said pressure applying assembly slightly.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein the means for manually lowering the creasing assembly includes a reciprocable crosshead operable in slideways provided on the'machine, a channel shaped block rigid withsaid crosshead, a lever the rear end of which has a pivotal connection with the upper end of a vertical rod and the forward end of which terminates in a rounded portion in constant engagement with said block, a pivotal support approximately centrally thereof for said lever, and a treadle the rear end of which has a pivotal connection with the lower end of said rod.

4. The machine of claim 2 wherein the means for automatically raising the creasing blade assembly following the manual lowering of same comprises a tension spring the upper end of which is attached to a pivoted lever included in the lowering mechanism, and the lower end of which is attached to the top wall of the base of the machine.

5. The machine of claim 2 wherein the means for manually lowering the pressure assembly includes an inverted channel shaped bracket mem' ber secured to the underside of a reciprocable supporting plate for said assembly, a pivot shaft supported by said bracket andpassing through the forward end of a horizontally disposed lever pivotally mounted approximatelycentrally thereof on a cross shaft supported in angle brackets depending from the top wall of the base of the machine, a treadle, and a flexible connection between the forward end of said lever and the forward end of said treadle. 4

6. The machine of claim 2 wherein the means for automatically raising the pressure assemblyv following the lowering of same comprises a. coil spring interposed between a horizontally disposed lever included in said lowering mechanism and the top wall of the base of the machine.

7. The machine of claim 2 wherein the means for manually raising the pressure assembly slightly following the automatic `raising thereof comprises a flexible connection between the rearV end of a horizontally disposed lever included in the automatic raising mechanism and the rear end of a treadle also included in said mechanism.

8. In a machine of the character described, 'al combined anvil and pressure plate assembly, means for mounting said assembly on a vertically reciprocable plate, chain and treadle means 'for reciprocating said plate, a. stationary forming block, means for mounting said block on the base, of the machine, a creasing blade secured to a horizontally disposed supporting plate, a vertically reciprocable crosshead, means for mounting saidcreasing blade supporting plate on the crosshead, and rod and treadle means for lowering saidcrQss--' head.

9. In a machine of the character described, a combined anvil and pressure plate assembly, means for mounting said assembly on a vertically reciprocable plate, a horizontally disposed lever pivotally supported on the base of the machine.

a bracket secured to the underside of said reciprocable plate, a pivotal connection between said bracket and one end of said lever, a spring interposed between the other end of said lever and the top wall of said base to normally maintain said reciprocable plate flush with said top wall, chain and treadle means for reciprocating said plate, a stationary forming block, means for mounting said block on the base of the machine, a creasing blade secured to a horizontally disposed supporting plate, a vertically reciprocable crosshead, means for mounting said creasing blade supporting plate on the crosshead, and rod and treadle means for lowering said crosshead.

l0. In a machine of the character described, a combined anvil and pressure plate assembly, means for mounting said assembly on a vertically reciprocable plate, a horizontally disposed lever pivotally supported on the base of the machine, a bracket secured to the underside of said reciprocable plate, a pivotal connection between said bracket and one end of said lever, a spring interposed between the other end of said lever and the top wall of said base to normally maintain said reciprocable plate flush with said top wall, chain and treadle means for reciprocating said plate, a stationary forming block, means for mounting said block on the base of the machine, a creasing blade secured to a horizontally disposed supporting plate, a vertically reciprocable crosshead, means for mounting said creasing blade supporting plate on the crosshead, rod and treadle means for lowering said crosshead, and spring means for thereafter automatically raising said crosshead.

ll. The machine of claim 8 wherein the means i'.

12. The machine of claim 8 wherein the means for mounting the stationary forming block comprises a depending dove-tail bar rigid with said block, a dove-tail groove formed in the upper face of the top wall of the base of the machine and adapted to slidably receive said bar, an aperture in the bar adjacent one end thereof, a. threaded hole in said base adjacent one end of the groove, and a set screw adapted to pass through said aperture into engagement with said hole to maintain said block in position.

13. The machine of claim 8 wherein the means for mounting said creasing blade supporting plate on the crosshead comprises an upwardly projecting dove-tail bar rigid with said plate, a dove-tail groove formed in the lower face of said crosshead and adapted to slidably receive said bar, a lug provided with a threaded aperture projecting laterally from one side of said crosshead in vertical alinement with and above said groove, and a set screw adapted to engage said aperture and impinge at its lower end against he upper face of said bar.

14. In a machine for turning and binding the edge portions of pieces of leather, means for maintaining the foiwardly projecting portion of a forming block rigid during applications of pressure thereto from below, said means including a rectangular block rigid with a frame portion of the machine, a plurality of vertical openings each extending from top to bottom thereof formed in said block, one or more rods each passing through a selected openingin said block and resting on said forwardly projecting portion of the forming block, a horizontally disposed latch arm pivotally mounted at one end on the unthreaded shank portion of a vertical screw carried by said block and adapted to maintain said rods in firm contact with said projecting portion, and an abutment angle the vertical leg portion of which is secured to the rear face of said block, and the horizontal leg portion of which extends forwardhr in contact with the free end of said latch arm.

, LOUIS J. NOECKER.

No references cited. 

